The allylic phosphonates are unique reagents for the preparation of dienes and polyenes. Hitherto, there is still no method for the stereodivergent synthesis of allylic phosphonates. In this article, a transition-metal-free method has been developed under mild conditions for the stereodivergent synthesis of allylic phosphonates from readily available dialkyl phosphites, vinyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, and aldehydes. An array of cis- and trans-allylic phosphonates is produced on demand with good to excellent stereoselectivities and yields.
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.